ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.27 | Jul 11 2018

TOP STORY

Mettl1/Wdr4-Mediated m⁷G tRNA Methylome Is Required for Normal mRNA Translation and Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation

The authors observed increased ribosome occupancy at the corresponding codons in Mettl1 knockout mouse ESCs (mESCs), implying widespread effects on tRNA function, ribosome pausing, and mRNA translation. Translation of cell cycle genes and those associated with brain abnormalities were particularly affected. Mettl1 or Wdr4 knockout mESCs displayed defective self-renewal and neural differentiation. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Human Pluripotent Reprogramming with CRISPR Activators

Researchers presented the reprogramming of primary human skin fibroblasts into iPSCs using CRISPR-Cas9-based gene activation, targeting endogenous OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, MYC, and LIN28A promoters. The low basal reprogramming efficiency could be improved by an order of magnitude by additionally targeting a conserved Alu-motif enriched near genes involved in embryo genome activation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Feeders Facilitate Telomere Maintenance and Chromosomal Stability of Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists investigated the roles of feeder cells by examining telomere maintenance. They showed that telomeres were longer in mouse ESCs (mESCs) cultured with than without feeders. mESC cultures without mouse embryonic fibroblast feeders exhibited telomere loss, chromosomal fusion, and aneuploidy with increasing passages. [Nat Commun] Full Article

In Vitro Generation of Mouse Polarized Embryo-Like Structures from Embryonic and Trophoblast Stem Cells

Researchers describe a protocol to generate the first embryo-like structures by directing the assembly of mouse ESCs and extra-embryonic trophoblast stem cells in a 3D extracellular matrix into structures they called ‘polarized embryo-like structures’. By establishing the medium and culture conditions needed to support the growth of both stem cell types simultaneously, embryonic architecture was generated within four days of co-culture. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Genome-Edited Human Stem Cells Expressing Fluorescently Labeled Endocytic Markers Allow Quantitative Analysis of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis during Differentiation

Using genome-edited human ESCs, and isogenic fibroblasts and neuronal progenitor cells derived from them, investigators established that clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) site dynamics and ultrastructure on the plasma membrane are precisely reprogrammed during differentiation. Expression levels for the endocytic adaptor protein AP2μ2 were found to underlie dramatic changes in CME dynamics and structure. [J Cell Biol] Abstract

Genome-Wide CRISPR-KO Screen Uncovers mTORC1-Mediated Gsk3 Regulation in Naive Pluripotency Maintenance and Dissolution

Scientists uncovered a key role for negative regulators of mTORC1 in the maintenance and exit from naive pluripotency and provided an integrated account of how mTORC1 activity influences naive pluripotency through Gsk3. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Status of KRAS in iPSCs Impacts upon Self-Renewal and Differentiation Propensity

Compared with wild-type (WT) iPSCs, KRAS mutant iPSCs displayed enforced retention of self-renewal and suppressed capacity for neuronal differentiation, while heterozygous knockout iPSCs showed normalized cellular characteristics similar to those of isogenic WT^ed/WT cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Droplet Microarray: Miniaturized Platform for Rapid Formation and High-Throughput Screening of Embryoid Bodies

Researchers demonstrated rapid and facile one-step formation of a dense array of multiple droplets containing homogeneous, single embryoid bodies. They applied the embryoid body microarray to screen 774 FDA-approved compounds, identifying compounds with developmental toxicity such as mycophenolate mofetil or embryonic lethality such as eptifibatide. [Lab Chip] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Is a Novel Notch Ligand Driving Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation towards the Smooth Muscle Lineage

Purified mouse cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) directly induced mouse ESC differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo, while the silencing of endogenous COMP markedly inhibited ESC-vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) differentiation. Notch signaling was significantly activated by COMP during ESC-VSMC differentiation, whereas the inhibition of Notch signaling attenuated COMP-directed ESC-VSMC differentiation. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News.

Modelling Microglial Function with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: An Update

Recent technological advances in the production of particular cell types from induced pluripotent stem cells have led to an interest in applying this methodology to the production of microglia. The authors discuss recent advances in this area and describe how they will aid our future understanding of microglia. [Nat Rev Neurosci] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

Cellect Signs Collaboration Agreement with Dresden University denovoMATRIX team

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced that it has signed a collaboration and material transfer agreement with the denovoMATRIX group of the Technische Universität Dresden. [Cellect Biotherapeutics Ltd.] Press Release

NIBEC Wins Patent for Peptide-Based Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cell in US

Nano Intelligence Biomedical Engineering Corporation (NIBEC) has acquired a patent regarding the method for preparing induced pluripotent stem cells using synthetic peptide in the U.S. [Korea Biomedical Review] Press Release

Chinese Researchers to Get More Autonomy Over Lab Spending

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says the country will ease restrictive rules governing how research funds are used, and cut red tape for researchers. Revised rules are designed to help researchers focus on their work and compete with their counterparts globally. [Nature News] Editorial

UK Universities Fall Short on Reporting Misconduct Investigations

The United Kingdom should establish a committee to monitor efforts by the nation’s universities to properly conduct misconduct investigations, a parliamentary inquiry recommends. The guidance follows a new report released on 11 July, revealing that one in four UK universities does not comply with research integrity guidelines released six years ago. [Nature News] Editorial

New Scheme for Overseas Researchers to Come to the UK

The new ‘UKRI Science, Research and Academia’ scheme, which allows non-EEA researchers, scientists and academics to come to the UK for up to 2 years, opened on Friday 6 July, the Immigration Minister announced. The new scheme, which is being added to the Tier 5 visa route, has been introduced to reflect and encourage the ongoing growth of the research sector in the UK. [UK Visas and Immigration] Editorial

NEW 2018 Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM2018)
November 12-14, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Senior Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Cellular Basis of Morphogenesis (University of California, San Francisco)

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (University of California, Berkeley)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Embryonic Stem Cell Derivatives for Vascular Grafts (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Research Associate/Scientist – iPSC Research and Manufacture (Evotec AG)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Vertebrate Neural Tube Development (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human Functional Genomics of Aging & Disease (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Research Associate/PhD Position – iPSCs & Neurodegenerative Disease (TU Dresden)

Research Specialist – Cardiovascular Disease (University of Illinois)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology – DanStem)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – hiPSC Based Cardiac Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Skeletal Muscle Disease Modeling and Regeneration (Duke University)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Bioprocess Engineering (Bluerock Therapeutics, LLC.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in ESC & iPSC News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.